Obama's Response To Fallen Soldier's Uncle

My sister-in-law emailed me a message regarding the death of one of her cousin's cousin who was killed in Afghanistan. The email was sent by the soldier's uncle who spoke to the President:

To everyone. Spc. Jared Stanker, killed in action is Afghanistan on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 is our nephew. He is my brother Kevin's son. He will certainly be missed. We all loved him very much.

As you probably all know, President Obama was at the Dignified Transfer at Dover AFB in Delaware. I attended with Kevin. We met President Obama and received his condlences. Basically he passed from one family member to another - very dignified. I could not pass up a short, respectful conversation with the President.


President Obama attended the Dignified Transfer of Spc. Jared D. Stanker in the early morning hours of Thursday, October 29, 2009 at Dover AFB, Delaware. He personally and individually expressed his condolences and great appreciation for the service of each soldier coming home.

As he approached Jared’s father, Kevin, and me, our military escort introduced Kevin to the President. The President extended his hand and shook Kevin’s hand and the President expressed the condolences and appreciation of a grateful country. Kevin and he then talked for a minute or two about Jared. Kevin then turned towards me and introduced me to the President as Jared’s Uncle Bob. Once again the President extended his hand to shake my hand and he likewise expressed the condolences and appreciation of Jared’s sacrifice. I shook the President’s hand and simultaneously reached out with my left hand and took hold of his right forearm. I accepted and said thank you to the President for his expression of condolences. I continued to hold his hand in a handshake and continued holding his right forearm with my left hand for the following discussion. As I can best remember, this is what I said:

With all due respect, Mr. President, I feel that you should support our troops in Afghanistan now since YOU decided to send additional troops to Afghanistan in March of this year. If you feel that you cannot give them the support that they need, then I think you should withdraw all troops from Afghanistan NOW since you must feel that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness cannot be attained in that part of the world.

President Obama responded by saying that we will always fight for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. At this point I felt that the President thought that the conversation was over. However, I continued holding his right hand and his right forearm.

I responded with this simple question. “When will that decision be made?”

President Obama responded by stating that “that decision will be made in the near future based on wise considerations.”

I simply responded by stating “You’ve had ten months.” At which time I broke the handshake that I had maintained throughout this brief conversation and released his right forearm. Both of which I had maintained throughout this entire conversation.

The President then went on to the next family.

I also heard a radio interview on WLS radio this morning. ABC had interviewed the mother of Sgt. Dale Griffin of Terre Haute, Indiana. The reporter asked Dona Griffin what if anything she said to the President. She said “Mr. President, please don’t leave our troops hanging.” See that brief interview at;

abcnews.go.com...

We are not the silent masses. We do make our voices heard and we do support our troops.

Bob Stanker

In this vein, Karl Denninger wrote a nice piece on Oct. 31, 2009 entitled:

"Doing The Same Thing Over And Over": War

market-ticker.denninger.net...

Here is the Chicago Sun Times story about Jared:

www.suntimes.com...

All I can say is to reiterate: "You've had ten months, Mr. President."


My condolences to Jared's loved ones and to the loved ones of all who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Obama will not likely make this decision before his trip to Asia, which is scheduled to be from Nov. 11th to Nov. 20th.

Obama has faced criticism from Republican opponents, including former Vice President Dick Cheney, over his lengthy review of the strategy he put in place in March. Critics say he is being over-cautious and the delay in making an announcement on the way forward in Afghanistan is emboldening the Taliban.

Cheney has the nerve to criticize Obama on taking so long to make a decision after a request for additional troops sat on his desk for 8 months and was finally filled by Obama in March. Cheney also has the nerve to say ANYTHING about Afghanistan after he virtually ignored Afghanistan for his entire term. Cheney has no room to speak at all. And anyone who listens to him now is just grasping at straws.

The White House says Obama will not be stampeded into making a hasty decision. It accuses the former Bush administration of neglecting the eight-year-old war and allowing the security situation there to deteriorate.

Making rash, ill-informed decisions has been tried. That's why we're in this mess. And because of that, thousands have died. I, for one, am GLAD that Obama is taking his time, gathering all the intelligence and information he needs to make a wise and educated decision. It's certainly a CHANGE from the last administration.

Making another hasty decision like his predecessors would be a disaster as that's what got us into this mess. I understand wanting to bring this war to an end. Believe me, I want to bring the soldiers home NOW. But this war is 8 years old and no good decisions were made during that time. Surely we can wait 2-3 more weeks for a GOOD decision to be made... I know I can.

Source

reply to post by Benevolent Heretic


Just so you don't get confused BH, obama is the president.He is the one that needs to make a decision.What possible good can come from bashing Bush(again as you are so eager to do) and if I recall obama was a senator before he became pres,is he just hearing about this now?Maybe if he was more concerned about the welfare of Americans instead of the feelings of the dictators of the world he would have a plan already.Do you see "barrys" dilemma?How can he curry faith with the muslim world and keep the American people believing he has our best interest at heart at the same time?It ain't easy being the messiah.

sorry double post

[edit on 1-11-2009 by genius/idoit]

Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic
Obama will not likely make this decision before his trip to Asia, which is scheduled to be from Nov. 11th to Nov. 20th.

Obama has faced criticism from Republican opponents, including former Vice President Dick Cheney, over his lengthy review of the strategy he put in place in March. Critics say he is being over-cautious and the delay in making an announcement on the way forward in Afghanistan is emboldening the Taliban.

Cheney has the nerve to criticize Obama on taking so long to make a decision after a request for additional troops sat on his desk for 8 months and was finally filled by Obama in March. Cheney also has the nerve to say ANYTHING about Afghanistan after he virtually ignored Afghanistan for his entire term. Cheney has no room to speak at all. And anyone who listens to him now is just grasping at straws.

The White House says Obama will not be stampeded into making a hasty decision. It accuses the former Bush administration of neglecting the eight-year-old war and allowing the security situation there to deteriorate.

Making rash, ill-informed decisions has been tried. That's why we're in this mess. And because of that, thousands have died. I, for one, am GLAD that Obama is taking his time, gathering all the intelligence and information he needs to make a wise and educated decision. It's certainly a CHANGE from the last administration.

Making another hasty decision like his predecessors would be a disaster as that's what got us into this mess. I understand wanting to bring this war to an end. Believe me, I want to bring the soldiers home NOW. But this war is 8 years old and no good decisions were made during that time. Surely we can wait 2-3 more weeks for a GOOD decision to be made... I know I can.

Source

Thank you for your reply. The President should hire you for his Press Secretary.

When you have a loved one killed in a war zone perhaps you play a "coulda, woulda, shoulda" tape in your head. Ultimately, the Commander-in-Chief bears responsibility for there son's fate.

When asked for additional troops either you fill the request or you pull out. If you're going to fight, fight to win, if not get the hell out. If Obama knows more about what it takes to win than his commanding officers then I guess he is the Messiah waiting for his golden moment to bring the world peace.

Bush claimed that he always gave his Generals what they asked for because they knew better than he how to fight a war.

This waiting game is politics as usual, meanwhile people are dying.



[edit on 11/1/2009 by sad_eyed_lady]

reply to post by genius/idoit


It's hard to save the world when you can't.



So much for humility.

When asked for additional troops either you fill the request or you pull out. If you're going to fight, fight to win, if not get the hell out.

Hatch: 'I hope' Obama not delaying troop decision to help Corzine and Deeds

That would be my guess.

according to Gibbs,

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Barack Obama has spent "close to 20 direct hours" in meetings on Afghanistan since Gen. Stanley McChrystal's request for tens of thousands of reinforcements was submitted over two months ago with a warning the war would be lost in twelve months without more troops.

OH twenty hours? fantastic.

Originally posted by Benevolent HereticMaking rash, ill-informed decisions has been tried. That's why we're in this mess. And because of that, thousands have died. I, for one, am GLAD that Obama is taking his time, gathering all the intelligence and information he needs to make a wise and educated decision. It's certainly a CHANGE from the last administration.

And this is what separates a leader from a politician. Obama has no command qualities. I wouldn't trust him to direct traffic let alone try to command experienced generals when men's lives are at stake. When men's lives are one the line, a military leader has to make a decision and then accept the responsibility for that decision. Obama is trying to make the best political decision. That screwed us up and cost many lives plenty of times throughout history, including US history.

The man has qualified and competent military commanders who have all assessed the situation and what was needed to meet their objectives, and made their requests. I can't imagine anyone in the military having any confidence in the president, at least in the realm of military command authority.

video.thechrismatthewsshow.com...

"And there's a new phrase which is floating around the White House which is 'minimum security'. That we're not actually aiming for a country which is stable that we are in control of, but we are aiming for a minimum amount of security and perhaps even a negotiated settlement with the Taliban."

Obama has concluded the U.S. cannot beat the Taliban and that he has requested new studies this week, one of each province to determine which ones may be ceded to the Taliban and another for troop levels other than those requested by Gen. McChrystal over two months ago.

firstread.msnbc.msn.com...

The last administration had 7 years to decide what course they would pursue in Afghanistan.

You know what. It's time to bring our children home. If you want to know why we need to just get out of that region look at the video on this thread !WARNING! EXTREMELY GRAPHIC & VERY DISTURBING! NorthEast IntelNet documentary:

I couldn't finish the video without almost getting sick. I say F that place. Bring our troops home. If these people are willing to do that to their own. We certainly don't need to be over there.